Regional

1:55 pm

Fri April 5, 2013

Texas A&M Rejects Student Group Discrimination

WASHINGTON -- Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the decision of Texas A&M Student Body President John L. Claybrook to veto a bill that would have allowed discrimination against on-campus LGBT organizations. The proposal would have allowed students to opt-out of activity fees being directed toward the campus LGBT resource center. The move comes after an amendment was withdrawn in the Texas legislature that would have prohibited funding to universities to “support, promote, or encourage any behavior that would lead to high risk behavior for AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis B, or any sexually transmitted disease.”

"Discrimination has no place in our country and certainly not in an institution of higher learning," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "Even in a conservative state like Texas, people understand the message we send to youth should be welcoming and affirming, not exclusionary."

"Campus resource centers like the one at Texas A&M are vital to providing a safe and comfortable place for young people to be themselves and reach their fullest potential," said HRC Youth & Campus Program Director Sultan Shakir. "At a time in life when many are finding themselves, we need to do more to create an atmosphere of inclusion, not weaken the institutions that make a real difference in people's lives."